A GREAT JEFFERSON CITY MUSICAL TRADITION
The roots of the Jefferson City Symphony Orchestra and the Jefferson City Community Concert series extend to 1923 and a performance by a small ensemble of local musicians at the First Baptist Church. The group gradually grew to become the “Little Symphony” of Jefferson City. It disbanded when many of its members joined the military for World War II. But it was not forgotten.
In 1948, three people—Lucile Turner, Bob Mansur, and Lawrence Woodman--reorganized the group as the Jefferson City Civic Orchestra. Carl Burkel conducted its first concert in November, 1950 at what is now the Central United Church of Christ.
About that same time, the Civic Music Club proposed a concert series that would include the Civic Orchestra’s performances. When Civic Music could not agree to a merger proposed by the Civic Orchestra, the orchestra turned to a New York management group that promoted Community Concert Associations throughout the nation.
Columbia Artists Management, Inc. accepted the plan to have orchestra concerts as part of the Jefferson City Community Concert Series. After a trial period beginning in 1953, the now-Jefferson City Symphony Orchestra became a permanent part of the Community Concerts schedule.
The relationship of the JCCCA and the JCSO was unique within the Columbia Artists Management operation. Except for Jefferson City, Columbia Artists Management dealt only with professional orchestras and professional arts organizations.
Burkel formed the Jefferson City Symphony Chorus in 1983 to perform with the Orchestra in its November concert. After Burkel’s death, Dr. John Taylor was the conductor of the JCSO from the spring of 1996 through 1997. J. Patrick Healey conducted the orchestra from 1998 through the November, 1999 concert. Dr. Steven Houser took over in February, 2000 and has led the orchestra since.
When Columbia Artist Management dissolved its Community Concert Associations, the Jefferson City organization quickly assumed responsibility for booking its own performers by dealing directly with artists or their agents.
The Jefferson City Community Concert Association maintains its original goal of providing audiences with quality entertainment at reasonable prices and of being the primary support organization for the Jefferson City Symphony Orchestra. Our membership dues continue to be among the lowest in the country, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and patrons who believe that the quality of life in our community is greater because all of us do our parts to continue the tradition of live performances begun by that small ensemble in 1923.
Thank you for joining us in this great Jefferson City musical tradition. Enjoy the performance!
PERFORMERS FOR THE JEFFERSON CITY COMMUNITY CONCERT SERIES
(IN ADDITION TO THE JEFFERSON CITY SYMPHONY)
1953-54:
James Melton, tenor
Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
Companions of Song
Theodore Lettvin, Pianist with orchestra
1954-55:
Jorge Bolet, Pianist
Rise Stevens, Mezzo soprano
John McCollum, tenor with orchestra
Musical Americana
1955-56:
Robert Shaw Chorale
Robert Rudie, Violinist
Mimi Benzell, soprano
The Telschiks, Duo-pianists
1956-57:
Igor Gorin, Baritone
Vienna Academy Chorus
Eugene Istomin, Pianist
Natalie Ryshna, Pianist with orchestra
1957-58:
Chicago Opera Ballet
Concertmen
Malbin & Marsh
1958-59:
Theodore Uppman, Baritone
Whittemore & Lowe, Duo pianists
Eric Friedman, Violinist with orchestra
Roger Wagner Chorale
1959-60:
Eric Friedman
List & Glenn
American Ballet
1960-61:
Ximene Vargas Ballet Espanol
Tucson Boys Chorus
Charles K. L. Davis, Tenor
1961-62:
Belafonte Folk Singers
Beaux Arts Trio
Rosalind Elias
1962-63:
Schory Percussion Ensemble
Theodore Lettvin, Pianist
Carol Smith, Contralto
1963-64:
Ballet ‘63
Salvatore Accardo, Violinst
Varel & Bailey, French Singers
Parsons & Poole, Duo-pianists
1964-65:
Lois Marshall
Paganini Quartet
Golden Curtain Quartet
Bihari Hungarian Ballet
1965-66:
Two Go Dancing
Vienna Boys Choir
David Bar-Illan, Pianist
William Walker, Baritone
1966-67:
Robert De Cormier Folk Singers
Nelson and Neal, Duo-pianists
Goldovsky Grand Opera Theatre, Rigoletto
First Chamber Dance Quartet.
1967-68:
Fiesta Mexicana
Helen Vanni, Soprano
Charles Treger, Violinist
Richard Hayman & the Manhattan Pops
1968-69:
David Bar-Illan, Pianist
The Camerata Singers
Simon Estes, Baritone
Virgil Fox, Organist
1969-70:
Neil Wolfe Trio
National Ballet of Washington
Dorian Quintet
Bruce Yarnell, Baritone
1970-71:
Lili Kraus, Pianist
Whit-Lo Singers
Addiss & Crofut, Guitarists/Folk Singers
1971-72:
Worlds of Skitch Henderson
Mildred Dilling, Harpist
The Romeros, Guitarists
Betty Allen, Mezzo-soprano
1972-73:
Edith Peinemann, Violinist
Frula, Yugoslav Dance Ensemble
Hodgens & Howard, Duo pianists
DeCormier Singers
1973-74:
World’s Greatest Jazz Band
Lucy Peacock, Soprano
Canadian Opera Company, Cosi Fan TutteI
Lawrence Foster, Cellist
1974-75:
George Shearing Quintet
Kyung Wha Chung, Violinist
Christopher Parkening, Guitarist
Michael Best, Tenor
1975-76:
Texas Boys Choir
Czechoslovakian Folk Ballet
Lauriette Woodwind Quintet
Andre-Michael Schub, Pianist
1976-77:
Young Americans “Oklahoma”
Richard Thomas Theatre Ballet
Rico Saccani, Pianist
Karen Armstrong, Piano
1977-78:
Stecher & Horowitz, Duo-pianists
Edmund Karlsrud, Baritone
Norman Luboff Choir
Eastern Brass Quintet
1978-79:
Gene Boucher, Baritone
Canadian Opera Company
Measure for Measure
Toccatas and Flourishes
1979-80:
Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan
New Christy Minstrels
Ransom Wilson
Weekly & Arganbright
1980-81:
Tamburitzan Folk Ensemble
Edmund Karlsrud & The Men of Song
Janacek Chamber Orchestra of Czechoslovakia
Sandra Warfield
1981-82:
Jurys Irish Cabaret of Dublin
Empire Brass Quintet
Steven & Nadya Gordon
Enrico DiGiuseppi
1982-83:
Mr. Jack Daniel’s Original Silver Cornet Band
Aspen Soloists
Mary Jane Johnson
Joffrey II Dancers
1983-84:
Manhattan Rhythm Kings
Solisti New York
Nathaniel Rosen, Cellist
Texas Boys Choir
1984-85:
Peter Nero trio
Alexander Peskanov, Pianist
Clamma Dale, Soprano
New York Light Opera
1985-86:
Alexander Markov
String Quartet
Organ & Trumpet
Alvin Ailey Dance
Schustik, Folk Singer
1986-87:
Some Enchanted Evening, A Revue
Broadway Marionettes "A Christmas Carol"
George Reid, Bass
Alexandria Quintet
Constantine Orbelian, Pianist
1987-88:
Stecher and Horowitz, Duo-pianists
Gloria Capone and Louis Otey
Big Band Galaxy of Stars
American Boychoir
1988-89:
Robert McDuffie, Violinist
New York City Opera Quartet
Dukes of Dixieland
McLaughlin & Marx
1989-90:
Dallas Brass
American Boychoir
New York Theatre Ballet
James Michael McGuire, Baritone
Lehnert Duo, Violin-piano
1990-91:
Hambro Quartet of Pianos
Linden Woodwind Quintet
Nevada Dance Theatre
Glenn Miller Orchestra
1991-92:
Sofia Chamber Orchestra
The Swingle Singers
Alxei Sultanov
Trio Bell’Arte
1992-93:
Roger Williams, The Autumn Leaves Tour
The Moscow Balalaikas
Sartory Trio
John P. Armstrong, Baritone
1993-94:
Mignon Dunn, Mezzo-soprano
The Robert Bonfiglio Ensemble, Harmonica
An Evening with John Bayless, Pianist
New York Theatre Ballet
1994-95:
Banjomania
Moscow Boys Choir
Bach with Pluck
Svyatoslav & Svetlana Levin, Piano Duo
1995-96:
Central Band of the Royal Air Force
Alba Quezada
Eroica Trio
The Lenny Solomon Trio, Jazz Violin
1996-97:
Stephen & Carol Kechulius, Baritone and Piano
Joe Trio
The White Cliffs of Dover
Aram Basmadjian, Organist
1997-98:
Rhythm & Brass
Dale Gonyea, Comic Pianist
The Harlem Spiritual Ensemble
1998-99:
Glenn Miller Orchestra
American Chamber Players
Meridian Arts Ensemble
Debbie Gravitte
1999-2000:
Nashville Bluegrass Band
Hornheads
Max Levinson
2000-01:
The Kingston Trio
Arcata String Quartet
Gus Girodano Jazz Dance Ensemble
Judy Collins
Roslyn Kind
2001-02:
Diane Schuur
London Piano Duo
Broadway Celebrates America
Boston Brass
2002-03:
Glenn Miller Orchestra
Boston Brass
Chicago Human Rhythm Project
Elizabeth Von Trapp.
2003-04:
The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
Neal & Leandra
The Kansas City Symphony
Theatreworks USA—“Charlotte’s Web”
Mimi Blaise
2004-05
Riders in the Sky
Fort Leonard Wood Jazz Band
Glen Road & Connie Dover, “An Irish Christmas”
Gemini
River City Ramblers
2005-06:
Les Brown Jr. and the Band of Renown
Rockapella
Ronald Radford, Flamenco Guitarist with dancer
Ink Spots
2006-07:
Jan Garber Orchestra
Twin Cities Community Gospel Choir
Rhythm & Brass
Brewer & Shipley
Mimi Blais
2007-08:
Clem DeRosa and The American Swing Orchestra
Michael B. Levin, Sinatra, Bennett & Me
Osuwa Taiko Japanese Drumming
Yesterday—A Tribute to the Beatles
Jan Aldridge Clark, Jazz Harpist
2008-09:
An Evening with Rockapella
Esterhazy Quartet
Maidens IV: Celtic Fire with Class
The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra
2009-2010
Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians
George Winston
The Turpin Tyme Ragsters
Ronald Radford
2010-2011
The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra
Lyric Arts Trio
Pittsburgh Brass
The Diamonds